Electrical hair-treating implement



Aug. 5, 1930. s. HARPER ELECTRICAL HAIR TREATING IMPLEMENT original medoct. 25, 1924 2 sheets-s'neez 2 INVENTOR Solomon, Harper FN 8x i sig,

Aim

Patenlzecl Aug. 5, 1930 UNITED sTA TEs PATENT oFF-lca SOLOMON HARPER, OFSYRACUSE, NEW YORK ELECTRICAL HAIR-TREA'I'ING IMPLMENT VOriginalapplication flled October 25, 1924, Serial No. 745,830. Divided and thisapplication flled December' 23, 1927. Serial No. 242,044.

T his invention relates to devices foruse in -treating hair, and moreparticularly to an automatically controlled, electrically heaterl combfor dressing, drying, and straightening the hair.J This application is adivision of my copending application Serial Number 745,-

830, filed October 25, 1924, for electrical hair treatingimple'ments(now Patent 1,663,078, granted March 20, 1928). The invention isdesigned to provide an improved device characterized by. mechanicalSimplicity, efliciency and case of operation, and in which the danger ofburning or overheating-of the hair or skin of the user is eliminated. iI V A` further object of the invention is to provide a device whereinthe electric' current to the heater is automatically cut off to preventoverheating of the device, this object being attaine'd by thelprovisionof an adjustable a'uxiliary cut-off device. which limits the maximumtemperature of the heater. 4 f i Afurther object is to provide foradjustable mounting of the comb on the main back- -ing element, wherebythe angle of inclination of the comb teeth with respect to the V'backingelement may be varied.V

Further objects and advantages will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are tobe construed as illustrating, rather than limiting, the invention. gFig. 1 of the drawings is a side view of a device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,- show- 'j ing theteeth of a combin their extended.

position. V 4 Fig. 3 is a view similar to-Fig 2, but showing the teethext-ending in a different direction with respect to the backingelement.-

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of thedevice for 'adjusting the temperature atwhich4 the thermost-atic current control4 operates.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial 'longitudinal 'sectional view of thedevice. f Fig. 6 is a transverse'sectional view taken on 'the line 6-6'of Fig. 5.

` end of the comb.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detailed face view of thesafety fuse element.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showingthe mounting of the switchmembers.

showing a slightly modified Construction.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on'the line 11-11 of Fig.10. f

Referring now to the drawings, my improved device comprises a mainmetalmember 10 that has the combined functions of a backing for thecomb, and a casing for the electric heating unit; and which might,generally speaking, be termed thecomb shell, This casing member is inthe form of an elongated cylinder, which however resents a'tran'sver'sely flat and longitudinal y rectilinear surface 10' thatforms an abutment against which the adjustable comb'bears.

Fig. 10 is a. similar view to Fig. 5, but

Too

This casing 10 is formed at one end with a a diminished, exteriorilyscrew threaded tip 11 over which is engaged the flange 12' of al cap 12that closes the said end of the cylinder. This cap 12 is formed on oneside with a Vlaterally projecting lug or ear 13 in which is fixeda-pintle or stud 14 that serves to support the comb at one end of thelatter. At its other end the casing is formed with an integralprojecting lug or ear 15 that acts complementarily to the lug 13 insupporting the comb, this 1u`gl15 being formed with a screw' threadedaperturc throughwvhich is passed a screw 16 engaging in a socketin theend of the comb, the pintle 14 above mentioned projecting into alike-socket in the first named The comb is shown generally at 20 and itsrear edge is shaped to present a flat surface 2`O'Acomplementary to thesurface 10' and bearing vagainst the latter, in flat contact therewitli,when the comb is in one of its selected positions. The comb 20 isslightly shorter in length than the surface between the lugs 13 and 15Iso as to leave a space between the end of the comb and the lug V15whose purpose is to permit of ready adjustment rvorV i removal of thecomb. -This space between the comb end and the lug 15 is slightly loclface 10' greater than the distance the p'intle 14 projects into the endof the comb, so that by moving the comb longitudinally toward the lug 15after the screw 16 has been drawn backward, the comb may be disengagedfrom the said pintle. A washer 22, having its edge beveled obliquely asat 22' to preserve a. smooth outline in the exterior parts of thedevice, is preferably inserted between the end of the comb and the lug15. In the operation of the Vcomb in adjusting it to various positions,the space between the comb and the lug 15, is (as previously stated)slightly greater than the distance the pintle 14 projects into the endof the co'mb. Moving the conib away from the pintle 14 therefore afterthe screw 16 has been drawn backwards permits the comb to move out ofcontact wit-h the pintle 14, and allows it to be dropped down so as topermit the comb in turning to clear the surface 10'. After turning tothe desired position, the comb may again be placed in engagement withthe pintle 14 and screw 16 It is obvious that this operation will permitadjustment of the comb and comb teeth 20a to' various angular positions.The washer 22 may or may not be removed during adjustment of the comb,according to the closeness of the fit between it and the abuttingsurfaces of the parts 15 and 20.

The teeth of the comb are indicated specifically by the referencecharacter 20a and are longitudinally curved as shown, the curvature onthe concaved advancing side of the comb being. greater than on the'followin side, as clearly shown. In addition to the flat surface 20'that abuts against the surface 10' when the comb is in the positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the longitudinal rib of the combpresents a second surface' 20 that is substantially perpendicular withrespect to the surface 20' and spaced equi-dis- Vtant with the latterfrom the median line of the members 14 and 16, so that the comb may bepositioned at difi'erent angular relations With respect to the casing10, with either of the side surfaces abutting against the suron thecasing.

Within the casing I position the electrical heating unit' whichcomprises a hel'icall wound coil 25 of slightly less length than thecasing; and a thermostatic switch for controlling the current to thecoil, this coil being of high electrical resistance. Closely surroundingthisceil-25 is a cylindrical shell26 of electrically insulatingmaterial, while this shell is in turn Surrounded closely by anothershell that is in the form of two semicylindrical halves, the plane ofdivision between these two halves being in parallelism with the surface10'. The shell section 27 that is adjacent the said surface 10' is of aheat insulating material such as asbestos, and

- forms a shield preventing overheating of the radially inturned comb,while the other shell section 28 is of ordinary electrical insulationsuch as fibre, or other like material. The purpose of the arrangementjust described is to insulate the comb in some degree from the heater,the vulk of whose heat is designed to be projectedv upon the portion ofthe casing remote from the comb. At one end the coil 25 is in closeadjacence to the cap 12 closing the end of the casing 10, while aninsulatingdisca 30 is positioned between the coil and the said cap. Thecurrent carrying Wire 25' from this end of the coil passeslongitudinally through the casing 10, between the shellsl 26 and 28 oneof which is suitably longitudinally curved to accommodate this wire, thewiringl passing along the casing on the side remote from the comb andbeing of the same high resistance material and dimension as the coilitself, so as to assist in heating the back of the casing where thegreatest heat is to be developed.

`The manner in which this wire 25, and the g turns of the coil 25 andthe rod 35. This filler material performs the functions of efiiecting auniform temperature from the beating coil, increasing the weight of thecomb, and em- 'bedding the coil against shocks that miglit otherwisebreak it. Screwed into the opposite end of the casing 10 to that closedby the cap 12 is a nipple' 36 which may approximately one-quarter thelength of the casing slightly overlapping the handle end of the comb andwhose inner end is adjacent the heating coil 25 in the said casing. The

threads of this nip le are raduall flat-' l tened toward the p g y endof the nipple as shown to accommodate expansion under heat, changy ingthe contour ofl the nipple from the usual cylindrical one to afrusto-conical one. This nipple is provided on its inner end with aflange 37 that encloses a central aperture into which is screwed anapertured plug 38,. the rod 35 before mentioncd passing' freely throughthe aperture in the said plug. The nipple 36 is formed on the end of -acylindrical forms, in effect, an extension of the casing' 10 and is ofequal exterior diameter with the latter. This member 39 has the endthereof op osite the nifpple 36 exteriorly/i'lscrew threa ed as at 39'or Securing it to handle 39a of hard wood or the like, theliandlehavpresently set forth. A suitbeofV member 39 that i ICC ing a socket inits end into 'which said mem'- ber is screwed.

At the point where the rod emerges from the` plug 38V into the chamberin the nipple 36 it is bifurcated a's 'shown to |form two -prongs orlegs 40 and 41 that diverge from one another at a compara-` tively smalloblique angle. At their ends these prongs extend beyond the confines ofthe nipple into a wide-ned chamber 42 in the 'member 39, the endportions of the' pron-gs preferably extending parallel, orsubstantially-parallel, to one another, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings.` These prongs or legs 40 and 41 are designed to act inCooperation with other elements of a material having |a less coeflicientof expansion under heat, whereby lateral movement of the prongs withrelationone to the other may be effected under variation 'of heatapplied thereto or reaching said prongs from the heating coil bytransmission along the-rod 35, said prongs opening away from one anotherin proportion to the heat developed in therod 35, the casing 10, and theparts adjacent to and surrounding the prongs. These other elements withwhich the prongs cooperate' V are in the form of straps 43 and 44 thatare whereby the thermostatic control device may be adjusted to cut ofi'the-current to the heating coil at certain predetermined temperatures,that may be selectively varied at the will of the user of the device.For the accomplishing of this function a stud 50 of suitableheat-refractory material is screwed into the end of the prong 41,transversely of the latter, and is formed with a flat head 51 againstwhichbears an abutment tip52 on a screw 53 that is threaded into asuitable tapered..

aperture in the wall of the chamber 42 in the member 39. The outer endface of this screw is formed to present a pointed indicator which may beconstituted by an indentation 54 sunk in the saidface, the periphery ofthe member being formed to present an annular flat face 55 surroundingthis-screw on which are a series of marks bearing different numerical1n'- dications representing different temperatures at which thethermostatic control 'may be set to operate when the screw is'adjustedto bring theindicator into registry with selected ones of the saidnu'meral indications. Thel screw 5,3 is preferably formed with threadsof comparatively large pitch' so that by a single turn i 'of the same'the desired variation of the tem- 'peratrlresacthnuipf the thermostaticcontrol' may be varied. The different parts relating to the thermostaticcontrol are 'preferably con- I structed and relatively proportioned sothat the said control may beset to operate when the surface of thecasing'zelement 10 'stands at temperatures ranging anywhere from onehundred to. two hundred and sixty de rees Fahrenheit, according to thedesire o the user.

The switch contacts ofV the thermostatic control device comprises thepins 60 and 61 fixed to the contiguous faces of the prongs 40 and 41adjacent the end of the same, these pins beingaligned with one anotherand projecting into the space between the prongs. The pins are suitablyinsulated from the prongs by means of the insulating bushings 62 inwhich said pins are set. These pins have fixed -on their radjacent endsthe enlarged 'block-'like carbon 'heads 63 and 64 respectively, thatnormally overlap one another and have their contiguous faces beveled asshown to present obliquely inclined contact faces. The pins 60 and 61are preferably so 'constructed as topermit of ready replacin'g of the'heads 63 and64 and 'to insure that the head 64' alone will break ifsuchitendency develo'ps. It will be understood of course that theinterior diameter of the nipple 36 is sufficient to allow the prongs 40and 41 to move' away from one another the distance neces- V sary to4disengage the beveledjcontact faces of the heads 63 and 64 from eachother. i

The thermostatic control device that has just been described acts undernormal con-- ditions to prevent overheating of the implement. Inaddition to thethermostatic controlLV device, I preferably provide alsoa supplementary or auxiliary safety cut-out element that will functionautomatically to cut ofi' the electric current from the heating coil 25,so as to provide an absolute safeguard against the heat rising to apointwhere danger to the hair or scalp of the user might be anticipated. Thissupplementary or auxiliary cut-out element comprises a thrust rod 70 ofa metal having a high heat conductivity, this rod extending freelythrough a longitudinal boring in -the' annular wall of the nipple 36 andhaving one -end adjacent to the end of the heating coil'and'its otherend in free engagement with one of the legs 71 projected from a shortplug 72 screwed into the wall of the member 39 in diametricjuxtap'osition to the screw 53. Extending between the said/legs 71vprojected from the plug 72 is a wire73 that forms a thermal fuse, andrthat also constitutes part of the circuit to the beating coil, whichwire. fuses or lmeltsjwhen the't'emperature exceeds the permittedmaximum, It will be understood that the parts V53 and 7 2 are sunkwithin'th'e periphery of-the member 39 to obviate possibility 'of thehair-of the user 'becoming entan led therein. I In arranging coi 1 nectsadjacent what might be termed the near end of the coil 25, with a lowresistance wire that may be carried longitudinally through the sameaperture or boring as the rod 70, or through a different boring, the

other end of this wire 75 being electrically connected to one of thelegs 71 of the plug 72. The said near end of the coil 25 has connectedthereto another suitably insulated low resistance wire 76 that connectsas indicated with the pin 60. From the other leg of the plug 72, andfrom the pin 61, respectively, other wires 77 and 78 lead throughapertures in a disc 79 of insulating material forming a transversepartition near the end of the member 37 and are connected to bindingscrews 80 threaded into said disc. These screws 80 have alsoconnectedthereto the two leads 81 from a duplex cord 82 of usualconstruction comprising two insulated wires in a flexible sheathingwhich' may have a suitable plug on its other end to engage with anelectric lamp socket, or any other socket it m'ay be desired to connectthe device to.

The form of the device shown in Figs. 10 and 11 diifers only from thatabove described 'in substituting for the straps 43, 44, to perform thesame function, a pin 83 that is fixed at its end in the wall of thenpple 37 and projects between the legs of the rod 35 to act to cam orwedge the latter away from one another when the rod expands under heat.

What is claimed is: j

1. In an implement of the class described, an electrically operatedheating unit, a comb, means providing an electric circuit leadingthrough the said heating unit, a switch in said circuit, anautomatically operating thermostatic control device for said Switch, andmeans accessible from the exterior of said implement for adjusting saidthermostatic control device to cause the same to operate at differenttemperatures.

2. In an implement of the class described, an electrically operatedheating unit, a comb, means providing an electric circuit leadingthrough the said heating unit, a switch in said circuit, anautomatically operating thermostatic control device for said switch,means for adjusting said thermostatic control device to cause the sameto operate at difi'erent temperatures, and a dial cooperating with saiddevice to indicate the temperature at which the same is set to operate.

3. An implement of the class described, comprising a casing, an electricheating unit therein, a comb mounted on said casing, means foradjustably positioning said comb on said casing to vary thel angle atwhich the teeth of the comb project from the casing, and mechanism forretaining said comb in a plurality of adjusted positions.

4. An implement of the class described comprising a casing, an electricheating unit therein, a comb mounted on said casing, and

means for adjustably positioning said comb on said casing to vary theangle at which the teeth of the comb roject from the casing, said casingand comb presenting flat rectilinear abutment surfaces engaged with oneanother to maintain the comb in' adjusted positions on the said casing.

5. An implement of the class described comprising an elongatedcylindrical casing, a comb mounted on one side of said casing, a helicalheating coil in said casing, and a sheath interposed in the casingbetween the saidcoil and the side wall of the casing, the portion ofsaid sheath on the side of said coil toward 'said combflbeing of heatinsulating material and the portion thereof on the side opposite to saidcomb being of non-heat insulating material.

6. An implement of the class described comprising an elongatedcylindrical casing, a comb mounted on one side of said casing, a helicalheating coil in saidcasing, a heat insulating shield interposed in thecasing between the said coil and the side wall of the casing adjacentthe said comb, and a tubular electrical insulator surrounding the saidcoil between the latter and the said shield.

7. An implementof the class described comprising an elongatedcvlindrical casing, a comb mounted on one side of saidcasing, a helicalheating coil in said casing, and a thermostatic device for controllingsaid heating coil, said thermostatic device being operated by meansincluding a rod extending axially through the said heating coil.

8. An implement of the class described comprising an elongatedcylindrical casing, a comb mounted on one side of said casing, a helicalheating coil in said casing, a thermostatic device for controlling saidheating coil, including a rod extending axially through the said heatingcoil, and an insulating filler in the space between the said rod and theturns of the coil. 1

9. An implement of the class described comprising an elongatedcylindricalcasing, a comb mounted on one side of said casing, a helicalheating coil in said casing, a thermostatic device for controlling saidheating coil, including a rod extending axially through 'the saidheating coil, and means for adjusting the :iii

said thermostatic device to operate at ditl'er- V ent selectedtemperatures.V

10. In an implement of the class described,

a heating coil, a thermostatic device comprising a rod extendingadjacent said heating coil, said rod having one end projected beyond thesaid coil and bifurcated, switch ele'- ments carried by the respectivelegs of the said bifurcated end of the rod, andmeans' wherebyexpansivemovement ofI the said rod under increase of temperature causesthe said legs to move away from one another to'open the said switchelements.

11. In an implement of the class described,

- said bifurcated yond the said coil 0 ments carried by beyondthe saidcoilV an -ilmaooe j a heating coil, a thermostatic device comprising arod extending adjacent said heating coil, said rod having one endprojected beyond the said Vcoil and bifureated, switch elements carriedby respective legs of the said bifurcated end of the rod, and meanswhereby expansive movement of the said rod under increase of temperaturecauses the legs to move away from one'another to open the said switchelements, said' means consisting of straps extended along said legs andfastened at one end to the adjacent ends of the legs,

said straps being of material having a differi expansion under heat thanI ent coeflicient of the said rod.

12. In an impleme'ut of the class described, a heating coil, athermostatic device comprising a rod extending adjacent said beatingcoil, said rod having one end projected beyond the said coil andbifurcated, switch elements carried by the respective legs of the saidbifurcated end of the rod, and means whereby expansive movement of thesaid rod under increase of temperature causes the said legs to move awayfrom one another to open the said switch elements, saidV switch elementsbeing in the form of pins projected toward one another and havingobliquely inclined overlapping heads. i

13. In an implementt of the class described, a heating coil, athermostatic device comprising a rodV extending adjacent' said beatingcoil, said rod having one end projected beand-bifurcated, switch eletherespective legs of the said bifurcated end of the rod, means wherebyexpansive movement of the said rod under increase of temperature causesthe said legs to move away from one another to open the said switchelements, and anadjustable abutment bearing on one of said legs to setthe same indifferent positions to switch elements 'to move out ofcontact at varying temperatures developed in the device.

14. an implement of the class described,-

a heating coil, a thermostatic device comprisin a rod extending adjacentsaid heating coil, said rod havin bifurcated, switch elements carried bythe respective legs of the end of the rod, means whereby expansivemovement of the said rod under increaseof tem erature causes the saidlegs to move. awa

i ment bearing on `one of said.- legsto set the same in differentpositions to cause the said switch elements to move out of contact atthreaded into the casing.

cause the saidone end projected rom one another to open the said switche ements, andan adjustable abut- V ing a rod' extending adjacent saidbeating coil, said rod having one end projectedLbeyond the lsaid coiland bifurcated, switch elements carried by the respective Vlegs of thesaid bifureatedend of the rod, means whereby expensive movement of thesaid rod under increase of temperature causes the said legs to move awafrom onejanother to open the said switche ements, an adjustable abutmentbearing on one of said legs to set the same in` to cause the saidswitch.

diflerent positions elements to move out temperatures adjustableabutment being in the form of a screw of a relatively lar e pitchthreaded inof contact at varying to the said casin'g,,and al and pointerindicating means for saidV screw.

16. In an im lement of the type described, a casing, ahelicallyoperated'heating unit in said casing, a comb,'means providin anelectrio circuit through the said beating unit, and separatethermo-controlled devices for cutting of the current to the said heatingunit, one of the said devices being in the form of a thermal fuse.

17. In an implement of the class described, a heating coil, athermostatic device comprising a rod extending adjacent said beatingcoil, said rod having one end'projected beyond the said coil andbifurcated, switch elements carried by the respective legs of theV said-bifurcated end of the rod, and means whereby expensive movement of thesaid rod under increase of temperature causes the said legs to move awayfrom one another to open the said switch elements, said means comprisinga wedge element -pos'itioned between the said legs of the rod. i

In testimony whereof I have' afiixed my signature.

' 15. InV an implement of the classV described,

'a beating coil, a thermostatic device comprisi developed in the device,sai

ioo

iii's

